One drug trafficker was shot dead and another escaped during a clash with police in Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai province on Monday night, after which at least 2 million methamphetamine pills were found in their car.
Border Patrol Police signalled a white Toyota Vios with Chiang Mai licence plates to stop for a search on Highway 4016, near Ban San Khong, about 9.30pm on Monday. The car was believed to be used by drug smugglers operating out of Mae Ai district, police said on Tuesday.
The Vios instead accelerated, ramming a police vehicle before the occupants fired shots at the police. Police returned fire.
The suspects abandoned the car and fled into a nearby rice field, exchanging gunshots with police for about three minutes. When the shooting ended police found one suspect dead at the scene. The other managed to escape. No officers were injured.
A search of the abandoned car found 10 bags containing more than 2 million meth pills. Some reports put it at 2.5 million pills.
Police said they were tracking down the fleeing suspect.
